Automatic blood mixing machine



Jan. 25, 1966 w. B. MOODY ETAL 3,231,244

` AUTOMATIC BLOOD MIXING MACHINE United States Patent O 3,231,244 AUTOMATIC BLOUD MIXING MACHINE Willard Bruce Moody and Ethelene G. Moody, 1711 Hillcrest Drive, Durham, N.C., and Henry B. McDonald, Rte. 1, Box 142B, Durham, N.C.

Filed Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,894 1 Claim. (Cl. 259-67) This invention relates to improvements in blood mixing machines, and in particular, to the self-powdered and automatic type olf revolving machine.

Blood consists of a fluid called plasms, in which are carried three vital kinds of cells, called corpuscles: red cells, white cells, and platelets. The red corpuscles (erythrocytes) carry hemoglobin, which combines with oxygen; they also carry various chemicals and fats. The white corpuscles (leucocytes) include a number of different kinds of cells, whose main task is to surround and destroy harm-ful cells, `germs and the like. The chieti known purpose of the platelets (thrombocytes) is to enable the Eblood to clot when necessary to prevent bleeding when the body is cut or injured.

In order to keep blood plasma, when stored, from deteriorating it is necessa-ry to keep the plasma constantly mixed and balanced in proportion of ingredients as nearly as possible to that found in its habitat, the human body.

The instant new machine solves the above problem by keeping `blood plasma gently land properly mixed in such desired proportions of ingredients by a rotary tumbling motion accompanied by a flexible spring absorbent reaction to any sudden and violent tumbling mixing action of the machine on the blood plasma.

The primary object ott the instant invention is to provide a machine to reliably and e'iciently keep blood plasma properly mixed and balanced in proportion to its existing ingredients, when stored, to prevent deterioration of the plasma.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic mixing machine capable 4of properly mixing blood plasma for prolonged periods of time without attendance of an operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic mixing machine capable of properly mixing stored blood plasma which is simple to service, operate and economical to manufacture.

With these and other `objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is an end view in elevation oaf the new machine in a dust proof enclosure supporting a housed motor and gear reduction unit thereon;

FIGURE 2 is la lpartial sectional side view of the inventive mixing machine in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a `part sectional view of the rotor and side pulley of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of one of the multiple test tube rack holders including common helical spring means of the new machine taken on lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view olf FIGURE 3 taken on lines 5 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, FIGURES 1 through 5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURES 1 and 2 disclose the dust prooi housing 10 having an access lid 11, knob lift means 12, motor means 13 and gear reduction means 13a in housing means 13b, conventional variable gear speed regulation means 14, and energizing electrical switch means 15. Electrical cable means 16 terminates in a suitable plug connection (not shown) for engaging any energized and suitable electrical outlet receptacle, thereby energizing the conventional electrical motor means 13 in housing means 13b. Gear reduction means 13a is operably connected to lbelt means 23 at 13e as shown in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 3 discloses a sectional portion of rotary drum means 17 connected by screw means 17a or other suitable means to belt disc pulley means 18, both of wlhich are suitably mounted on shaft means 19 carried by conventional horizontal bearing means 2.43` secured to support structural means 21 `by Ibolt means 22. Between the two disc side portions 17b and 17e of drum means 17 are radially mounted by screw means 25 a plurality of carrying brackets 24 for rack means 21a attached thereon as shown.

Each pair of -oppositely disposed brackets 24 are interconnected by a ibase plate means 26, intermediate plate means 27, and upper Iplate means 28 by solder means 29 or other suitable means as shown. Helically coiled spring means 3i) is mounted between the oppositely disposed brackets 24 juxtaposed to base means 26. Spring means 39 may be secured at each end by screw means 25 or other suitable means.

FIGURES 4 and 5 disclose a ings 31 and 32 in intermediate plate means 28, respectively, to receive a plurality of test tubes 33 having closure means 33a, as shown in broken lines in FIGURES 3 and 4.

In use test tubes 33 with reap enclosures 33a are placed in aligned openings 32 and 31 of upper plate means 28 and intermediate plate means 27, respectively, allowing the lower portion of test tube 33 to be tlexibly secured in helical spring means 30' as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Then switch means 15 is closed to energize the variable speed motor means 13 inside housing 13b which actuates reduced gear means and t-urns pulley means 13C to actuate belt means 23 which rotates pulley means 18 and drum means 17 at a desire-d and consistent rotary speed, mixing and balancing the plasma ingredients in proper proportions to prevent deterioration of blood plasma.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved blood mixing machine which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

It should -be understood, of cou-rse, that the foregoing disclosure relates to Ionly a preferred embodiment of the inven-tion and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications lof the example of the invention herein chosen :for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures `from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

An automatic mixing machine of the character de-` scribed comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in fixed plurality of test tube openplate means 27 and upper 'Patented Jan. 25, 1966 v position in said casing, a rpair of spaced similar disks rotatably mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of annular- 1y spaced radially extending similar racks secured to and between said disks; a pulley secured to the outer 'face of one of said disks; power means, and means 01peratively connecting said pulley to said power means through which said disks and the said racks secured to and between said disks are adapted to be rotated in unison by said power means; each of said racks comprising a pair of opposed radially extending brackets each of which is secured to the inner face of earch of said disks, an elongated rectangular base plate secured lto and between said brackets adjacent the lower ends thereof, an elongated rectangular upper plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein secured to and between said brackets adjacent the upper ends thereof, an elongated rectangular Aintermediate plate having a plurality of spaced apertures therein secured to and between said brackets intermediate said base and upper `plate with the said apertures therein disposed in alignment with the said apertures in said upper plate, and a transversely extending helically coiled spring which is dispo-sed between said hase and intermediate plates and is secured to and between said brackets; the aligned apertures in said upper and intermediate plates being adapted to have elongated containers removably mounted therein with the lower ends of said containers frictionally gripped between adjacent convolutions of said helically coiled spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,010 6/1902 Eick 134-159 X 1,002,347 9/1911 Werner 259-89 1,293,410 2/1919 Goodwin 211-77 X 1,780,061 10/1930 Bluff 211-69 X 1,997,935 4/1935 Johnson 259-57 2,202,344 5/ 1940 Hamilton et al 134-159 2,341,496 2/ 1944 Zethrnayer.

2,345,130 3/1944 Latham 259-54 2,411,174 11/1946 Swensen et al 259-57 X 2,617,635 7/1950 Ash 259-57 2,662,752 12/1953 Miller et al 259-57 2,989,061 6/1961 Winkler 134-159 X 3,013,776 12/1961 Patterson 259-57 3,142,385 7/1964 Kahlenberg 211-74 FOREIGN PATENTS 576,395 5/1959 Canada.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

